SOC 101

1) I do not believe that there is a third sex in society. However, I am fully supportive of transgender people, as well as all other members apart of the LGBT community. I believe that there are two genders, which are male and female. However, I believe that if a male wishes to transition into a girl, or if a girl wishes to transition into a boy, they should be allowed to do so. I would support their change and refer to them as their new gender identity. I would still consider them either a boy or a girl. Even though they are transgender, I would still refer to them as being either male or female, depending on what they transitioned into. For example, I consider the men in the video who transitioned into women to be female. I do not believe that transgender is a gender itself, which is why I do not believe that there is a third sex in society.

Along with this, I also believe that neither men nor women should have to live up to gender stereotypes. If a person who identifies as a male wishes to act feminine, whether he is or isn't straight, he should be allowed to do so without being insulted. I would still refer to him as being a male. This is also the case with people who identify as women, yet are very masculine. I believe that your gender does not limit you on how you must act or how you sexually identify yourself. Straight males can be feminine just like straight women can be masculine. My reason for mentioning this is from the part in the video where it showed the men who transitioned to women cleaning the house and doing many of the chores that they believe only women should do. I feel that it is perfectly acceptable for a male to do "female" chores, while still identifying as a male. 

Lastly, I would like to point out that there are many differences in definitions involving the terms "gender" and "sex." Most people view the term "sex" in a biological sense, meaning to be male or female depending on your genitalia. However, this creates an argument for those who do not identify as male or female, despite what they were biologically born as. The question asked if I believe that there is a "third sex." This would mean that there is a third way a child could be born, as in, they could be male, female, or something else. Obviously, this is impossible, which is why I do not believe that there is a third sex. I feel it is important to mention that my post is simply my opinion. I accept everyone for who they are, no matter how they identify themselves!

2) I do not believe there is a third sex in a society based off of what the word “sex” means. Our book defines sex as “a term that denotes the presence of physical or physiological differences between males and females”. Therefore, this has nothing to do with what someone perceives themselves to be and is determined by biology. Now, human anatomy has always said that there are two sexes, male and female (You either have an XX or an XY on your chromosomes). This suffices to show that it is not even in principle possible for there to be a third sex in society due to there only being two. What appears to be going on with these Samoan fa'afafine’s is that they are viewing themselves as a gender other than what their sex is (our book defines gender as “a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female”). Of course, people may think they are a man, woman, or any number of things, but this does not make their biological sex change. In conclusion, there is not a third sex present in Samoan society nor any other society.

3) Third sex is defined as a concept in which individuals are categorized, either  by themselves or by society, as neither man or woman. It is also a social category present in societies that recognize three or more  genders. I personally do not belive in a third sex in society. I believe that biology determines a human's chromosomal and anatomical sex as male or female. I do not believe that a person's psychological state determines their sex, I believe their anatomy is the deciding factor as to what sex they were born. 

I have never had a cultural experience where a third sex is present. However, our text book does say that the state of personally idetifying as, or being identified by society as, a man, a woman, or other, is usually also defined by the individual's gender identity and gender role in the particular culutre in whicht hey live. Not all cultures have strictly defined gender roles.